a native of Montevarchi.  Yet, as often happens, he was more Florentine than the Florentines; and of the events which he describes, he had for the most part been witness.  Duke Cosimo employed him to write the history; it is a credit both to the prince and to the author that its chapters should be full of criticisms so outspoken, and of aspirations after liberty so vehement.  On the very first page of his preface Varchi dares to write these words respecting Florence—­’divenne, dico, di stato piuttosto corrotto e licenzioso, tirannide, che di sana e moderata repubblica, principato’;[1] in which he deals blame with impartial justice all round.  It must, however, be remembered that at the time when Varchi wrote, the younger branch of the Medici were firmly established on the throne of Florence.  Between this branch and the elder line there had always been a coldness.  Moreover, all parties had agreed to accept the duchy as a divinely appointed instrument for rescuing the city from her factions and reducing her to tranquillity.[2]

    [1] ’It passed, I say, from the condition of a corrupt and
    ill-conducted commonwealth to tyranny, rather than from a healthy
    and well-tempered republic to principality.’

    [2] See Arch.  Stor. vol. i. p. xxxv.

It would be beyond the purpose of this chapter to enter into the details of the history of Florence between 1527 and 1531—­those years of her last struggle for freedom, which have been so admirably depicted by her great political annalists.  It is rather my object to illustrate the intellectual qualities of philosophical analysis and acute observation for which her citizens were eminent.  Yet a sketch of the situation is necessary in order to bring into relief the different points of view maintained by Segni, Nardi, Varchi, Pitti, and Nerli respectively.

At the period in question Florence was, according to the universal testimony of these authors, too corrupt for real liberty and too turbulent for the tranquil acceptance of a despotism.  The yoke of the Medici had destroyed the sense of honor and the pride of the old noble families; while the policy pursued by Lorenzo and the Popes had created a class of greedy professional politicians.  The city was not content with slavery; but the burghers, eminent for wealth or ability, were egotistical, vain, and mutually jealous.  Each man sought advantage for himself.  Common action seemed impossible.  The Medicean party, or Palleschi, were either extreme in their devotion to the ruling house, and desirous of establishing a tyranny; or else they were moderate and anxious to retain the Medici as the chiefs of a dominant oligarchy.  The point of union between these two divisions of the party was a prejudice in favor of class rule, a hope to get power and wealth for themselves through the elevation of the princely family The popular faction on the other hand agreed in wishing to place the government of the city upon a broad republican basis.  But